Survey reveals world’s best natural swimming pools

A newly released survey has uncovered the world’s best natural swimming pools, with Sydney’s Bondi Icebergs and Bronte Baths ranking in the top five, as well as six other pools in NSW featuring in the global top 20.

The newly released study from travel insurer AllClear has analysed the search demand and online review scores of the world's natural swimming pools, highlighting amazing places to take a dip for people who love the balance between the wild beauty of the sea and the safety of a swimming pool.

It explains “natural swimming pools can either be naturally occurring pools that are formed through volcanic activity, tidal movements or erosion, or can be man-made but still function like a natural body of water - with non-chemically treated fresh or salt water.

“They are a growing trend, with global searches for ‘natural swimming pool’ rising a huge 83% year on year. Their popularity is down to their perfect balance between the wild beauty of the sea, and the safety of a swimming pool."

According to the data, which analysed both global search demand and travel review scores, Charco Azul on the island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands is the top natural swimming pool in the world. The pool was formed by flowing lava which created a stunning bathing spot filled with turquoise water.

Two other pools located in the Canary Islands also feature in the top 10, Los Charcones Natural Pools in Lanzarote and Las Salinas de Agaete in Gran Canaria. Both are situated within volcanic rock and are ideal for enjoying the coastline in calmer waters.

Sydney’s famous Bondi Icebergs Pools and Bronte Baths both also make the top 10 while Mereweather Ocean Baths and Newcastle Ocean Baths along with Sydney’s Wylie’s Baths, Dee Why Rockpool and Fairy Bower Sea Pool also feature in the global top 20 list.

Sarah Collinson from AllClear comments “natural swimming pools offer travellers an amazing opportunity to connect with nature in some of the most breathtaking destinations in the world, without the worries that swimming in the open ocean can bring. However, it’s important to remember that there is still an element of risk when enjoying the water in these beautiful swimming spots.

“Though many of these pools have lifeguards, not all of them always have someone on duty, and slippery rocks or poor accessibility are things to consider if you do decide to take a dip. It’s also important to make sure you have the right travel insurance for your trip so you can travel with peace of mind."

Methodology
A long list of natural swimming pools was compiled based on travel and tourism websites. The global searches for each of these pools were then pulled from Google Keyword Planner looking at the last 12 months, and the Google review score was noted down for each. The Google review score and the number of global searches were then combined to create a list of the top pools in the world.

Click here for more information on travel insurance, particularly for those travelling with medical conditions.

Images: Bondi Icebergs (top, credit: Destination NSW) and Newcastle Ocean Baths (below, credit: City of Newcastle).